Building construction



March 3, 1942. 'r MCGEE 2,275,109

- BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 2, 1939 INVENTOR Richard TMCG e e Patented Mar. 3, 1942 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Richard T. McGee, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to The Consolidated Ex Wheeling, W. Va Virginia panded Metal Companies,

corporation of West Application June 2, 1939, Serial No. 277,003

3 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to a structure and a structural member for use in the fabrication of walls in buildings, although in its broader aspects the invention is not specifically limited to this use.

In my copending applications Serial Nos. 229,104 and 243,140 there are disclosed and claimed structures which are particularly adaptable for the fabrication of lath and plaster walls and which have to do primarily with the positioning and supporting of the studs. I have devised a further improved stud supporting and positioning structure and structural members for use therein which facilitate the positioning of the studs and allow for wide flexibility as to the location of the studs. I preferably position the studs by means of tongues outstruck from base members at the top and bottom of the wall and I preferably arrange the tongues in such a way that a plurality of tongues in one of the base members cooperate to position a stud with respect thereto. A tongue preferably embraces at least a portion of the stud. Preferably the tongues in at least one of the base members are arranged in a plurality of series and I find it of advantage to stagger the tongues of one series relatively to those of another.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view with portions cut away of a part of a partition or wall construction employing my improved structure;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional View to enlarged scale taken on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view also to enlarged scale taken on the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating details of the structure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modifled form of structure at the bottom of the wall; and

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 of a structure which is the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, at the top and which has at the bottom the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, there are provided a lower base member or floor rail 2 and an upper base member or ceiling rail 3, each of these members being elongated and of generally L shape in cross section, as shown in Figures 2- and 4. The floor rail 2 has a web portion 4 and a flange portion 5. Holes 6 for receiving fastening means are provided at intervals in the flange portion 5. The floor rail 2 is positioned with its flange 5 substantially horizontal to form the bottom of the stud supporting and positioning structure for the wall and may be nailed in place or otherwise suitably fastened to an underlying supporting structure through the holes 6. The web 4 extends upwardly substantially at right angles to the flange 5. The web 4 has two series of outstruck tongues. The upper series comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues l and the lower series comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues 8. All of the tongues T and 8 are outstruck from the web 4 of the floor rail 2 and extend substantially parallel to such web as shown, although the tip or outer extremity of each tongue is bent slightly outwardly away from the web 4 whereby its utility is increased, as will presently appear. Each of the tongues l of the upper series points generally longitudinally of the floor rail 2 in one direction and each of the tongues 8 of the lower series points generally longitudinally in the opposite direction. The tongues I of the upper series are staggered relatively to the tongues 8 of the lower series, as best shown in the lower portion of Figure l. I

The ceiling rail 3 has a web portion 9 and a flange portion to. Holes II for receiving fastening means are provided at intervals in the flange portion It. The ceiling rail 3 is positioned with its flange l0 substantially horizontal to form the top of the stud supporting and positioning structure for the wall and may be nailed in place or otherwise suitably fastened to an overlying supporting structure through the holes I I. The web 9 extends downwardly substantially at right angles to the flange Ill. The web 9 of the ceiling rail 3 is of substantially greater height than is the web 4 of the floor rail 2. The portion of the web 9 of the ceiling rail 3 adjacent the flange I0 is flat and has holes l2 punched therein to decrease the dead Weight of the rail and to aiford means for keying of the plaster. The web 9 has two series of outstruck tongues. The upper series comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues 13 and the lower series comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues It. All of the tongues l3 and I4 are outstruck from the web 9 of the ceiling rail 3 and extend substantially parallel to such web as shown, although the tip or outer extremity of each tongue is bent slightly outwardly away from the web 9. Each of the tongues l3 of the upper series points generally longitudinally of the ceiling rail 3 in one direction and each of the tongues [4 of the lower series points generally longitudinally in the opposite direction. The tongues I3 of the upper series are staggered relatively to the tongues M of the lower series, as best shown in the upper portion of Figure 1.

In erecting a wall construction such as a partition the floor rail 2 is positioned along the floor at the bottom of the place where the wall is to be and the ceiling rail 3 is positioned directly above and parallel to the floor rail 2, the rails 2 and 3 being fastened in place. In positioning the rails 2 and 3, prior to permanently fastening them in place they are preferably arranged with a tongue l3 of the ceiling rail directly above and in vertical alignment with a tongue l of the floor rail, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

I prefer to employ flanged studs and the studs l5 shown in the drawing are of generally channel cross section each having a web portion l6 and flange portions H. In positioning a stud relatively to the supporting and positioning structure above described the upper portion of a flange of the stud is slipped beneath one of the tongues l3 or one of the tongues 14 of the ceiling rail 3 so that such tongue substantially embraces such flange, as shown in Figure e. In the illustrated embodiment the flange of the stud is embraced by one of the tongues l3. If one of the tongues I4 should be employed for this purpose the stud would be reversed in position with the flanges pointing in the opposite direction and the opposite flange would be slipped beneath one of the tongues It. By reason of the pro vision of the outturned tips of the tongues the stud flange may be slipped thereunder either by generally longitudinal movement of the stud or by generally transverse movement of the stud and it is generally easier to position the upper portion of the stud by moving it generally sidewise or transversely so that the stud flange is embraced by one of the tongues [3 or M. 1

When the upper portion of the stud is slipped under one of the tongues l3, as shown in Figure 4, the two tongues I4 lying generally below and immediately adjacent such tongue l3 cooperate with the stud to hold it in place. The outer extremity of the flange of the stud abuts against one of such underlying tongues l4 and the other of such underlying tongues M has its outwardly bent tip-bearing against the back of the web of the stud as shown in Figure 3. The tongues are sufficiently resilient that they will spring slightly to allow the stud to be introduced, and the stud may also be inclined at a slight angle to the vertical to facilitate its connection with the ceiling rail.

When the upper portion of the stud is being engaged with the tongues of the ceiling rail as above described the lower portion of the stud will ordinarily not be engaged with the tongues of the floor rail but will simply lie adjacent the web 4 of the floor rail, the stud being slightly inclined to the plane of the wall. However, it would ordinarily be possible to engage both the iii) upper and lower portions of the stud with the ceiling and floor rails respectively at the same time by maintaining the stud substantially vertical and in the same relation to the tongues of the floor and ceiling rails during such engagement. It is generally easier, however, to engage the upper portion of the stud with the tongues of the ceiling rail while the lower portion of the tongue simply lies alongside the web 4 of the floor rail but not in engagement with the tongues of the floor rail. When its upperportion has been engaged with the tongues of the ceiling rail the stud is moved upwardly until its bottom is above the upper surfaces of the tongues 1 of the floor rail, whereupon it can be brought into substantially vertical position and lowered to the position shown in Figure 4 in which its bottom rests upon the flange 5 of the floor rail 2 and with the lower portion of the stud flange engaging the tongues T and 8 of the floor rail just as the upper portion of the stud flange engages the tongues l3 and M of the ceiling rail.

The ease with which the stud is positioned relatively to the floor and ceiling rails will be apparent, yet the structure is extremely simple and inexpensive. The stud is held tightly enough so that the wall supporting structure is of ample strength.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a modified structure of floor rail and stud. This structure may be employed with a ceiling rail as above described andshown in the drawing. The floor rail shown in Figures 5 and 6 and designated by reference numeral I8 is of generally channel shape with a series of tongues l9 struck up from the web thereof. Th spacing of the tongues I9 is the same as that of the tongues of each of the upper and lower series in the ceiling rail. The upper portion of the stud is engaged with the ceiling rail in the same manner as above described with respect to the structure shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. The flanges 20 of the stud at the bottom thereof are bent inwardly toward each other, and after the stud has been engaged with the ceiling rail it is lowered to substantially embrace one of the tongues IQ of the floor rail. The floor rail l8 has holes 2| for the reception of nails or other suitable fastening means to hold it in place.

The studs are positioned at any desired intervals, it being apparent that the provision for spacing of the studs is very flexible and that at the time of erection of the wall the spacing may be determined. The studs may be placed relatively close together or far apart and they may be spaced regularly or irregularly. After the studs are set in place metal lath and preferably expanded metal lath as shown at 22 is fastened to the studs as by wires 23. If the structure is a partition to be finished on both sides lath may be applied on both sides of the studs if desired or only a single lath sheet may be used and such sheet may be plastered on both sides. If a single lath sheet is plastered on both sides the thickness of the plaster on the stud side will have to be great enough 'to cover the studs. The plaster is shown at 24 in Figure 1. It is retained in place primarily by the expanded metal lath, although it also keys to some extent with the ceiling and floor rails through the openings at which the tongues are formed and through the openings H in the ceiling rail.

to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A structural member having a generally plane surface having projecting therefrom a plurality of rows of tongues each having a free end spaced from said surface to provide an open ended structural member receiving cavity with the tongues in one row staggered relatively to those in another row so that at least one tongue in one of said two rows and at least one tongue in the other of said two rows are adapted cooperatively to position another member relatively to the structural member.

'2. A structural member having projecting therefrom a plurality of rows of tongues each having a free end spaced therefrom to provide an open ended structural member receiving cavity with the tongues in one row staggered relatively to those in another row and the tongues in each of said two rows extending generally longitudinally of the row so that at least one tongue in one of said two rows and at least one tongue in the other of said two rows are adapted cooperatively to position another member relatively to the structural member.

3. A structural member having projecting therefrom two rows of tongues each having a free end spaced therefrom to provide an open ended structural member receiving cavity with the tongues in each of said rows extending generally longitudinally of the row so that at least one tongue in one of said rows and at least one tongue in the other of said rows are adapted cooperatively to position another member relatively to the structural member.

RICHARD T. McGEE. 

